Halotolerant bacterial strains as bio-fertilizer with growth-promoting and abiotic stress alleviation benefits for plants and application thereof

Abstract

A bio-fertilizer and/or a bio-stimulant is provided, including at least one microbe selected from the group consisting of Pseudomonas monteilii (XE15) having NRRL Accession No. B-67997, Bacillus subtilis (XE18) having NRRL Accession No. B-67996, and Pseudomonas sp. (TR8) having NRRL Accession No. B-67998, and combinations thereof. The bio-fertilizer further includes a carrier and a beneficial supplemental microbe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bio-fertilizer comprising:
 at least one microbe selected from the group consisting of  Pseudomonas monteilii  (XE15) (NRRL B-67997),  Bacillus subtilis  (XE18) (NRRL B-67996), and  Pseudomonas  sp. (TR8) (NRRL B-67998).   
     
     
         2 . The bio-fertilizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the bio-fertilizer is in a form of granule, pellet, dust, powder, slurry, film, and/or liquid suspension. 
     
     
         3 . The bio-fertilizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the bio-fertilizer further comprises a carrier selected from the group consisting of water, aqueous solutions, slurries, bio-polymers, nutritive organics, mineral nutrients, and powders. 
     
     
         4 . The bio-fertilizer according to  claim 1 , wherein the bio-fertilizer further comprises a beneficial supplemental microbe. 
     
     
         5 . A method of promoting a growth of plants and alleviating abiotic stresses of the plants, the method comprising:
 providing a bio-fertilizer comprising:   at least one microbe selected from the group consisting of  Pseudomonas monteilii  (XE15) (NRRL B-67997),  Bacillus subtilis  (XE18) (NRRL B-67996), and  Pseudomonas  sp. (TR8) (NRRL B-67998), and combinations thereof; and   contacting the bio-fertilizer with soil, the plants, or plant seeds under conditions effective to promote the growth of the plants or a growth of the plant seeds.